Sheila Simpson Studio
About Sheila
From textile art including weaving and printing on fabric, to painting, paper making, ceramics, and printmaking, my ideas are seldom quiet. Each of these media feeds the inspiration for my work, and sometimes are combined for a new approach.
I love to paint on textured surfaces. Perhaps, it comes from my mother sending me outside to paint water on the side of the house in order to occupy me when I was very young. I would spend hours putting water down, and watching it slowly fade as it dried. The change in hue as the water faded fascinated me. Perhaps, it was as I watched the colors blending in with each other, as I made playdough in the kitchen for my younger brother.
At any rate, I continue to love to paint on textured surfaces, whether it is on textured-gessoed ground, papyrus, or clay. Constructing a surface on which to paint, seems to be important to my process, and I literally create from the ground up.
I can't imagine a world without art, or making something to express the times, and my response to it as events occur, whether personal or in the larger collective and natural world.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
1991 M.F.A., Painting/Drawing University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
1983 3-Year Certificate, Weaving Pacific Basin School of Textile Art, Berkeley, California.
1979 B.A. French University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2022 3-person Show, Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington.
2021 Solo Show, Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington.
2020-2023 Ongoing Solo Show, The Gathering Place, Lopez Island, Washington.
2017 Solo Show, Lopez Island Library, Lopez Island, Washington.
2009-2020 Annual two-person, and group shows, Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington.
2012 Juried Group Show – Pressing Matters, Pacific Arts League, Palo Alto, California
2008 Two-person show, Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington.
2007 Group Show, Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, Washington.
2007 Lopez Island Artists' Studio Tour, Lopez Island, Washington.
2007 San Juan Island Art Fair, Friday Harbor, Washington.
2006 Lopez Artists' Studio Tour, Lopez Island, Washington.
2006 Two-person show, Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington.
2005 Wild Arts Festival, Portland, Oregon.
2005 Bellevue Art Festival, Bellevue, Washington
2005 Chimera Gallery, Two-person show, Lopez Island, Washington.
2004 Northwest Women's Art & Craft Show, Karma Place, Bow, Washington.
2003 Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington
2002 Kings Mountain Art Fair, Juried, Woodside, California.
2002 Lopez Art Festival, Lopez Island, Washington.
2002 Portland Arts Festival, Juried, Portland, Oregon.
2002 Expressions West, Juried, Coos Bay Art Museum, Coos Bay, Oregon
2002 Manifestations des œufs, Jardin des Oiseaux, Spay, Sarthe, France.
2001 Solo Exhibit, Fish Bay Mercantile, Lopez Island, Washington.
2001 Anacortes Arts Festival, Juried, Anacortes, Washington.
2001 Portland Arts Festival, Juried, Portland, Oregon.
2001 Solo Exhibit, Giustina Gallery, LaSells Stewart Center, OSU, Corvallis, Oregon.
2000 Yager Museum Holiday Show, Yager Museum, Oneonta, New York.
1999 Willamette Valley Art Show, Juried, Corvallis Arts Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
1999 Pacific Northwest Arts Fair, Juried, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, Washington.
1998 Solo Exhibit, Due Fine Art Gallery, Eugene, Oregon.
1998 Woodinville Art Walk, Juried, Woodinville, Washington.
1998 Anacortes Arts Festival, Juried, Anacortes, Washington.
1996/1997 Winter lights Show, Corvallis Art Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
1994 Springfield City Hall Gallery, Drawing Invitational, Springfield, Oregon.
1993 La Petite Miniature Show, Juried, Alder Gallery, Eugene, Oregon.
1992 Solo Exhibit, Lopez Library, Lopez Island, Washington.
1991 M.F.A. Graduate Exhibit, Museum of Art, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
1987 Woven & Printed Scarves, Holiday Fair, Lane County Fair Grounds, Eugene, Oregon
1986 Woven Rugs Exhibit, Opus 5 Gallery, Eugene, Oregon.
1983 Graduate Exhibit, Pacific Basin Textile Art, Berkeley, CA
PUBLICATIONS
2002 Wildlife Art Magazine, Cover, Light in Wildlife Art article, July/August issue.
2001 Lane Arts Council 2001 Art Source back cover art display.
1995 The Bag Lady, Artists Book, Published in July 1995 issue of CALYX Journal.
1990 Drawings and Cover Art for Timberline Art and Literary Magazine, University of Oregon.
1990 Cartoon published in the Northwest Comic News.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2003-2007 Board Member, Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington
1999 Instructor, Basic Bookbinding Workshop, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, Oregon.
1998 Japanese Papermaking Lecture to the Eugene Fiber Arts Guild.
1996/1997 Founding Member of the Book & Paper Arts Guild of Eugene.
1994 Demonstrated Alkyd Paints & Oil Bars to Emerald Empire Art Association, Springfield, Oregon.
1994 Stretching Canvas Instruction, South Eugene High School Art Class, Eugene, Oregon.
1993/1994 Instructor, Beginning Drawing at Oregon Art Supply, Winter Terms, Eugene, Oregon.
1993/1994 Program Director of Art Education Program at Oregon Art Supply, Eugene, Oregon.
1983 Teaching Assistant, Beginning Weaving: Summer, Pacific Basin School of Textile Art, Berkeley, California.